11 Jun 2025
Policy Compliance in 2025
In today’s fast-moving business landscape, where technology, wellbeing, and sustainability all influence how and why we travel, one issue still frustrates travel managers and programme owners alike: policy compliance.
While corporate travel policies are designed to protect budgets, manage risk, and ensure traveller safety, the reality is that compliance levels remain inconsistent, especially among a younger, tech-savvy workforce. According to recent industry reports, many business travellers admit to booking outside of policy to find better deals or preferred options, often unaware of the wider implications this behaviour can have on safety, spend, and company accountability.
The root of the problem
Many travellers view policy as restrictive - a barrier to convenience or savings. It’s not unusual for employees to stray from the approved channels in pursuit of cheaper fares or better schedules, often unaware of the full reasoning behind company policies. This disconnect undermines the value of negotiated rates, increases unmanaged spend, and can compromise duty of care responsibilities.
Historically, bulky travel policy documents hidden deep within corporate intranets failed to capture the attention or understanding of employees. But the landscape is evolving. The new generation of travellers, primarily Millennials and Gen Z, demand transparency, ease of use, and personalisation. Strict mandates without context or flexibility simply won’t stick.
Why compliance still matters
Policy compliance isn't just a box-ticking exercise - it underpins a company's entire travel strategy. When employees book within policy, organisations benefit from:
Greater visibility and control over travel spend
Accurate reporting and forecasting
Real-time duty of care, especially in emergencies
Improved supplier negotiation through consolidated booking data
Reduced risk exposure
Especially in an era where global uncertainty, political instability, and climate disruptions are more frequent, knowing where your employees are, and that they’re supported, is a non-negotiable aspect of business travel.
How the landscape is changing
The good news? Compliance doesn't have to mean compromise. Modern travel policies are becoming more concise, flexible, and user-centric. They focus on core principles - such as safety, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability, while allowing room for traveller preferences.
Instead of rigid rulebooks, many companies are moving to simplified, flexible policies - often just a few pages long - with clear language and hyperlinks to deeper details. They are also considering employee wellbeing and productivity: for example, allowing private transfers after long-haul flights or flexible return-to-work conditions to reduce burnout.
Technology plays a vital role here. An intuitive booking platform that embeds policy rules, like spend thresholds, approval workflows, and sustainability filters, can gently guide travellers toward compliant choices without friction. It becomes less about “you must follow this” and more about “this is the best option for you and the company.”
How Selective Travel Management supports compliance
At Selective Travel Management, we simplify compliance through smart technology and personalised support. Our booking tools default to in-policy options, with built-in approvals, sustainability filters, and custom settings.
The Travel Hub gives instant access to policies, training, and travel advice - ideal for today’s self-service users. Traveller Tracking and real-time reporting ensure duty of care and monitor policy adherence.
Our account managers work closely with you to adapt policies and support evolving workforce needs - because one-size-fits-all doesn’t work in travel.
Successful policy compliance in 2025 comes from empowering travellers. By aligning policies with real-world habits and embedding them into user-friendly tech, companies can achieve both control and flexibility - naturally encouraging adherence.
Visit Selective Travel Management at Stand M62 at the Business Travel Show Europe or find out more about how we simplify business travel at www.selective-travel.com.
While corporate travel policies are designed to protect budgets, manage risk, and ensure traveller safety, the reality is that compliance levels remain inconsistent, especially among a younger, tech-savvy workforce. According to recent industry reports, many business travellers admit to booking outside of policy to find better deals or preferred options, often unaware of the wider implications this behaviour can have on safety, spend, and company accountability.
The root of the problem
Many travellers view policy as restrictive - a barrier to convenience or savings. It’s not unusual for employees to stray from the approved channels in pursuit of cheaper fares or better schedules, often unaware of the full reasoning behind company policies. This disconnect undermines the value of negotiated rates, increases unmanaged spend, and can compromise duty of care responsibilities.
Historically, bulky travel policy documents hidden deep within corporate intranets failed to capture the attention or understanding of employees. But the landscape is evolving. The new generation of travellers, primarily Millennials and Gen Z, demand transparency, ease of use, and personalisation. Strict mandates without context or flexibility simply won’t stick.
Why compliance still matters
Policy compliance isn't just a box-ticking exercise - it underpins a company's entire travel strategy. When employees book within policy, organisations benefit from:
Greater visibility and control over travel spend
Accurate reporting and forecasting
Real-time duty of care, especially in emergencies
Improved supplier negotiation through consolidated booking data
Reduced risk exposure
Especially in an era where global uncertainty, political instability, and climate disruptions are more frequent, knowing where your employees are, and that they’re supported, is a non-negotiable aspect of business travel.
How the landscape is changing
The good news? Compliance doesn't have to mean compromise. Modern travel policies are becoming more concise, flexible, and user-centric. They focus on core principles - such as safety, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability, while allowing room for traveller preferences.
Instead of rigid rulebooks, many companies are moving to simplified, flexible policies - often just a few pages long - with clear language and hyperlinks to deeper details. They are also considering employee wellbeing and productivity: for example, allowing private transfers after long-haul flights or flexible return-to-work conditions to reduce burnout.
Technology plays a vital role here. An intuitive booking platform that embeds policy rules, like spend thresholds, approval workflows, and sustainability filters, can gently guide travellers toward compliant choices without friction. It becomes less about “you must follow this” and more about “this is the best option for you and the company.”
How Selective Travel Management supports compliance
At Selective Travel Management, we simplify compliance through smart technology and personalised support. Our booking tools default to in-policy options, with built-in approvals, sustainability filters, and custom settings.
The Travel Hub gives instant access to policies, training, and travel advice - ideal for today’s self-service users. Traveller Tracking and real-time reporting ensure duty of care and monitor policy adherence.
Our account managers work closely with you to adapt policies and support evolving workforce needs - because one-size-fits-all doesn’t work in travel.
Successful policy compliance in 2025 comes from empowering travellers. By aligning policies with real-world habits and embedding them into user-friendly tech, companies can achieve both control and flexibility - naturally encouraging adherence.
Visit Selective Travel Management at Stand M62 at the Business Travel Show Europe or find out more about how we simplify business travel at www.selective-travel.com.
